MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects   Paris / Bologne

Mario Cucinella founded MCA architects in Paris in 1992 and in Bologna in 1999. A student of the architect Giancarlo De Carlo, he developed his professional experience in Renzo Piano’s office, first in Genoa and then in Paris.

The exhibition is devoted to the firm’s early years, a period during which MCA explored the field of architecture along three main lines : international competitions, construction and research.

MCA was a partner of the European Community for the Joule III research program, aimed at developing new technologies to reduce energy expenditure in construction.

Mario Cucinella was also awarded the « Förderungspreis 1999, Architecture Section » by the Akademie der Künste in Berlin (the first young Italian architect to receive this prize). The firm has also developed a research practice in environmental and technological issues within urban planning and contemporary design.

(Original text of 2001, machine translated in 2026.)